Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com
Beauty, Beauty 101, Hair, Natural Products, Reviews

HAIRCARE 101 + MY TIPS FOR LONG, STRONG, HEALTHY HAIR

Welcome back for another installment in my Beauty 101 series! I get a lot of questions about my hair, so today’s post covers everything I know about how to get long, strong, healthy hair. Did you know I’ve had just about every haircolour imaginable over the years — even green and purple as a teenager? In my lifetime I’ve coloured my hair with Kool Aid, Sun In (yikes… anyone else remember those days?!) and many other drugstore and professional colours. I worked at a hair salon throughout college, so I do have a good foundational knowledge of hair in addition to what I’ve learned on my own. In the past 10 years my hair has been every shade of red, blonde, ombre and brunette — it was fun to experiment and see what I liked best on myself. But all those years of colouring and heavy heat styling definitely did a number on my super fine hair! Over the years I’ve transitioned back to my natural haircolour and my hair is finally healthy again — but it’s been a long road to get here. Stay tuned for a crash course in Haircare 101 plus my tips for long, strong, healthy hair!


HAIRCARE 101 + MY TIPS FOR LONG, STRONG, HEALTHY HAIR


General Tips

I’m sure you’ve all heard that your hair is an external marker of your overall health and I totally believe that. A diet full of nutritious food including plenty of omegas, protein and iron combined with lots of water, proper sleep and exercise will all have an impact on your hair. When you take care of yourself your hair will show it! A healthy diet will also help your hair grow faster — which I can definitely attest to because my hair grows like a weed! I’m not going to yammer on for too long about this because taking good care of yourself obviously has many more (and more important) benefits than beautiful, strong, shiny hair. Having hair that looks its best is just a bonus!

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com

I know this probably sounds redundant, but this is a Haircare 101 post — you have to be nice to your hair ladies! If you’re constantly bombarding your mane with chemicals and heat it’s going to show. So over the years I’ve learned to use products and develop habits to nurture my hair rather than damaging it. Transitioning back to my natural haircolour and lightening up on heat styling and harsh products has had a huge impact on the health of my hair. It’s kind of ironic that after years of changing my hair colour I’ve discovered that I actually really like my natural haircolour — I’m planning to enjoy it until it goes grey! My hair has never been this healthy and it’s taken many years of pampering to get it to the condition it’s in today. I have tons of very fine (and mostly straight) hair that gets damaged and dry very easily. So my recommendations are tailored to my hair type, but I think anyone can benefit from these tips!

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com


Washing & Drying

My biggest tip for growing long, strong and healthy hair is to lighten up on the washing! It might sound counter-intuitive, but especially in our dry Alberta climate letting your natural oils do their thing is so important for the health of your hair. I wash my hair twice a week. It may sound gross if you’re used to washing your hair every day — but let me explain! I use dry shampoo in between washes (I’ll chat more about that later on) to keep my hair looking fresh. The good news is after a few months of not washing your hair as often it starts to self-regulate and not produce oil as rapidly.

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com

After I do wash it, whenever possible I let my hair air dry. Usually, I’ll plan to wash it when I know I’ll have time at home (or out and about) to just let it dry naturally. Keeping blow drying to a minimum has saved my hair so much. In general, the more heat styling you can cut out of your routine, the better. And good news — lightening up on the washing (and the styling) will also save you time, effort and money!

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com


Shampoo & Conditioner

When I do wash my hair, I use 3 products religiously. I saw a huge difference in the health of my hair when I switched to sulfate free shampoos and looked for products with more natural ingredients. One small tip that makes a big difference is not to use really hot water to wash your hair — keep it comfortable, but avoid scalding temperatures. I usually start with the Desert Essence Organics Coconut Shampoo (which smells heavenly) because even though it says it’s for dry and damaged hair, I find it very detoxifying. Usually, I have some product buildup on my scalp if I haven’t washed my hair in 3 days from dry shampoo, and the like — this shampoo makes my hair feel squeaky clean. After I rinse that out, I follow up with One ‘n Only Argan Oil Moisture Repair Shampoo for a second wash. This is a more of a moisturizing, creamy formula and it helps to re-hyrate my hair. It also smells delicious.

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com

Then, I always use the One ‘n Only Argan Oil Restorative Mask in place of conditioner. Yep, I use a mask every time I wash my hair. Why? Because it keep my hair super moisturized, manageable and tangle free. I coat my hair from mid-shaft to ends with the mask and then twist it up off my neck and shoulders, and secure with a clip. Then I go about doing all the other things I have to do in the shower like shaving my legs, etc. By time I’m done with all of that, the mask has fully absorbed and I rinse it out with cool water to close the hair shaft. This helps to keep your hair cuticle laying flat and makes everything look nice and smooth — plus it’s just a pleasant way to end your shower!

Desert Essence Organics Coconut Shampoo, One 'n Only Argan Oil Moisture Repair Shampoo, One 'n Only Argan Oil Restorative Mask Photos, Review // JustineCelina.com


One ‘n Only Argan Oil Moisture Repair Shampoo | Desert Essence Organics Coconut Shampoo | One ‘n Only Argan Oil Restorative Mask


Leave-in Treatments

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com

Because it’s so dry here and my hair needs the moisture, I use 2 leave in treatments after washing. First, I spray in the Desert Essence Coconut Hair Defrizzer & Heat Protector into my damp, fresh out of the towel hair. Then, I use about 4 pumps of the Mystic Divine Nourishing Oil Treatment from my mid-shaft to ends to help lock in moisture and keep my hair silky. After I’ve dispersed both of those products evenly, I comb through my hair with a Wide Tooth Detangling Comb and let it air dry. I usually don’t have any snags or pulls, but it’s really important to be gentle when you’re combing through your freshly washed hair — it’s in its most fragile state and prone to breakage. 

Desert Essence Coconut Hair Defrizzer & Heat Protector & Mystic Divine Nourishing Oil Treatment Photos, Review // JustineCelina.com


Mystic Divine Nourishing Oil Treatment | Desert Essence Coconut Hair Defrizzer & Heat Protector


Brushing, Combing & Detangling

I won’t use any other brush when my hair is dry than the The Wet Brush. I know, it’s called The Wet Brush, but I prefer to comb through my hair with a Wide Tooth Detangling Comb. The Wet Brush makes brushing your hair so easy and it never, ever rips or tugs. I’ve even recommended it to a few friends with children who say that it works well for kidos too! 

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com

It’s important to thoroughly brush your hair at least twice a day for a couple reasons. It helps to distribute the natural oils from your scalp to the ends of your hair, and it also helps to keep your hair tangle free and therefore less prone to breakage. I always brush my hair before I wash it — it makes the whole combing out process post-wash so much easier.

The Wet Brush Photos, Review // JustineCelina.com


The Wet Brush | Wide Tooth Detangling Comb


Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is my religion. I was a very faithful user of the Batiste Dark & Deep Brunette Dry Shampoo for years before it was discontinued, and now I kind of bounce around all over the place and have some high end, drugstore and DIY favourites. I use dry shampoo between washes to keep everything looking fresh and clean, but I also use it even on freshly washed hair to add texture, grit and volume.

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com

My all time favourite dry shampoo and texturizer is the Drybar Triple Sec 3 in 1 (hop over to this really old post for a review). It smells amazing and does exactly what is says — it’s a three-in-one volumizer, texturizer, and dry shampoo. It’s also completely colourless. The only downside is the price — when you go through dry shampoo like water it can get expensive, which it why I only reserve this for special occasions. Another high end favourite is the MoroccanOil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones (full review here) — mostly because it smells delicious, but it also does a good job at keeping my hair looking fresh. It is slightly tinted, although as I used it down to the end of the bottle, I did notice it left a bit of a white cast on my hair. If you’re looking for a simple powder product, try the Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder. It’s really great at soaking up oils and adding volume, but it adds tons of grit to your hair. That can be a good and a bad thing, so I usually reserve this one for the last day before I wash. It smells like baby powder, which I’m not crazy about.

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com

After trying all of those, I went out in search of an awesome, inexpensive dry shampoo — and I found it in the Dove Refresh + Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo. This is a clear dry shampoo, (hallelujah!) that makes my hair feel really clean (review here). And after doing some investigating and realizing that the first ingredient in almost every powder dry shampoo I’ve tried is corn starch (including the Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder mentioned above) I decided to make my own! Brunettes — if you mix 3 parts cornstarch to 1 part cocoa powder it makes a fantastic, natural dry shampoo that really works (and smells delicious!). Blondes and redheads can just use cornstarch, straight up. If you go through as much dry shampoo as I do, and you’re looking for bargain buys that works, give these a shot! And as always, if you have a great dry shampoo recommendation for me, please leave it below.

Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder Photos, Review // JustineCelina.com


Dove Refresh + Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo | Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder


Styling

I’m planning some hair styling posts and tutorials this year, so I’ll keep this brief. But I want to mention keeping the heat styling to a minimum (and using good tools) is essential in preserving the health of your hair. I swear by Sultra The Bombshell Curling Wands and I use both the 1″ and 1.5″ barrels to achieve the loose waves I wear most of the time. But, I hold the hair around the wand very briefly and I only curl my whole head on the day I wash it. After that, I rely on dry shampoo, twists, braids and hats to ride my style out until my next wash. Usually I just fix up a few pieces around my face with either a curling wand or a straightening iron on days 2 and 3. Most of the time I actually like my second and third day hair more than my freshly washed hair! If you’re curious about how I achieve my signature loose waves, hop over to this post and scroll down to the Soft Waves section (it’s #9). You can purchase Sultra both on amazon.ca or at Target (and Canadians, Target now ships to Canada!).

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com


Little Things

Before I go to sleep every night, I give my hair a thorough brushing and pile it all ontop of my head in a big topknot with a scrunchie! Yes, you read that right. No, it’s not sexy — but tying your hair up gently with a fabric covered scrunchie is the best way I’ve learned to both preserve my style and help protect my hair while I sleep. Sometimes if I know I won’t be washing my hair the next day I’ll even sprinkle some dry shampoo or corn starch into my hair before I brush it out and put it up to help prevent oils from forming over night. It’s almost like washing your hair while you sleep! I also do the same thing before I work out to help counteract any sweatiness that may cause my style to drop.

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com

If you’ve read my Skincare 101 or How to Get a Sunless Summer Glow posts, you know what a stickler I am for good skincare and sun protection. But, most people forget the sun also has a similar effect on your hair! If I know I’m going to be out in the sun for most of the day, I’ll wear a hat. Protecting your hair (and scalp) from UV rays will definitely help them stay healthy and also prolong the life of your hair colour. Plus, hats helps to protect your skin, too — and they’re cute!


Extensions

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com

In the summer I ordered some ombre extensions because I wanted the option to clip ombre into my natural hair without the damage. I wore them a few times and I ended up liking the extra volume so much that I coloured them to match my natural haircolour (if you’re curious I mixed a 7G and 7W). I wear them about twice a month — usually if I’m getting dressed up, attending an event or a special occasion. I don’t wear them often (or for long periods of time) because I feel like eventually they’d begin to damage and break my hair — which is something I experienced with clip ins with I was blonde. I also only wear 2 – 3 wefts at a time. The set comes with 7 pieces of hair and for me personally that’s just way too much — but I like mine to look natural. If someone had thinner (or shorter) hair to start with, I could see using the full set. Usually no one can tell when I’m wearing them (once my boyfriend said my hair looked “more bushy at the bottom”) but I love the way they look — and that’s really all that matters!

justine-celina_faux-fur-distressed-denim_1

My extensions are same length as my natural hair because I had them professionally cut to blend perfectly. If you’re going to invest in extensions, I’d encourage to have them professionally cut to get the most out of them. Think of it like having a dress tailored to fit your body perfectly — it’s the same concept! Dawn at Dawn Bradley Hair cut my extensions for me and the process was educational and fun. She also had a great tip — she told me to mark back the wefts with a dot of nail polish and make myself a little reference guide so I know where to place them each time I clip them in. Dawn and I were both impressed at the quality of the extensions and I’d definitely recommend Foxy Locks if you’re looking to invest in a set. I think they’re totally worth the price! I’m working on a coupon code for you guys if you’re interested in ordering a set for yourself, so hang tight and I’ll come back and update this post when I have one.

Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair // JustineCelina.com


I hope you found this post helpful! Let me know if you have any other hair questions and I’ll do my best to help you out. I’m also starting a series of hair posts and tutorials at JustineCelina this year, so let me know what specifically you’d like to see! Thanks for reading.


Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored, and contains my genuine thoughts and recommendations. JustineCelina uses affiliate and referral links, which allow me to receive a small commission when you make a purchase through one of my links. Your purchases help to support JustineCelina.com!

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16 Comments

  • Reply Sarah Sleno March 24, 2016 at 10:22 am

    Thanks for the info! Where can you buy Desert Essence and One n’ Only products in Calgary? Or can you only order it online? Thanks

    • Reply Justine March 24, 2016 at 10:36 am

      Hey Sarah! You can totally find them in Calgary. One n’ Only is only available at Sally Beauty — it’s their own brand. It’s also where I purchase the Mystic Divine Nourishing Oil Treatment I mention in this post. There are a few locations in Calgary and that store is a total gem! They sell professional hair products but it’s open to the public. I know for sure they have locations by Sunridge mall and just south of Chinook on Macleod Trail. I think there may be one in the Northwest, too. Desert Essence is a bit easier to find, but I see it for the lowest price at Superstore! Check out the organic / natural aisle and you’ll find the Desert Essence line there. I hope the products work out for you — please report back if you try them or have any other questions!

  • Reply Jamie Wiebe March 30, 2016 at 10:11 am

    I’m going to pick up the Dessert Essence on my next grocery trip! I have long, thick, straight hair and I’ve been feeling a bit drab lately. Your tips have inspired me to put in a little more effort. I’ve been slacking since having a baby but he’s two now I can put a little more time into my hair.

    • Reply Justine March 30, 2016 at 1:19 pm

      Hi Jamie! I’m glad I’ve inspired you — honestly it’s not as much work as you’d think when you only wash your hair twice a week. I mention in the comment above you where you can find the products if you’re out shopping! If you have any questions just ask. 🙂

  • Reply Kellie April 1, 2016 at 5:18 pm

    I totally believe in protecting hair and the less is more technique. I have stopped using a blow dryer and have noticed like you an increase in my hair health.
    I am a huge fan of Paul Mitchell products, actually I think I’m a PM addict.
    Kellie from Princess & The Yard Ape

    • Reply Justine April 1, 2016 at 6:57 pm

      Hey Kelly! Thanks for stopping by. Reducing heat styling is always my #1 tip for helping hair get healthy again. 🙂

  • Reply APRIL BEAUTY FAVOURITES - Justine Celina May 10, 2016 at 10:15 am

    […] I found Batiste products in Canadian Superstores last month as well! I was a faithful user of the Batiste Dark and Deep Brunette Dry Shampoo for years — until last spring when I was told that it was discontinued and I could no longer find it online. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it (along with my new favourite Tropical scent) on the shelves at Superstore! Batiste claims that this dry shampoo banishes oily roots, giving dull, lifeless hair the makeover it needs without water and that’s exactly what it does. It also doesn’t leave a white cast on my medium brunette hair, adds a little volume and and it smells absolutely divine. In my opinion, Batiste makes the best dry shampoos on the market — at any price point. Read more about how I use dry shampoo as part of my haircare routine for long, strong, healthy hair. […]

  • Reply WHAT TO WEAR TO | SPRING WEDDINGS - Justine Celina May 28, 2016 at 2:14 pm

    […] you’re curious about my haircare routine and favourite products or tools, I also have a Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair post where I cover everything hair […]

  • Reply WHAT TO WEAR TO | THE CALGARY STAMPEDE - Justine Celina July 13, 2016 at 7:12 pm

    […] 5) Clip in extensions for extra fullness or length. I’m wearing 3 wefts of Foxy locks extensions below the occipital bone, on the occipital bone and just below the crown of the head. My extensions are the same length as my natural hair — Dawn cut them to blend in perfectly and I love the fullness and dimension they add! If you’re curious about my haircare routine or extensions, hop over to this post. […]

  • Reply MAKEUP BRUSH 101 - Justine Celina August 12, 2016 at 9:32 pm

    […] Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair […]

  • Reply AUGUST BEAUTY FAVOURITES - Justine Celina September 4, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    […] If you’ve been a long time reader, you’ll have heard me rave about Drybar products before. In fact, I mentioned their Triple Sec 3-in-1 back in my first ever monthly beauty favourites post. While I love that product, it’s quite expensive, so I reserve it for special occasions. The Batiste Special Edition Ella Henderson Dry Shampoo (admittedly, I had absolutely no idea who Ella Henderson was before Googling her prior to posting) is an exact scent dupe for the Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 — that signature Drybar scent that’s absolutely divine. It’s definitely a polarizing scent though, so you’ll either love it or hate it — I’d describe it as warm, vanilla based, and a touch powdery. The Batiste Special Edition Ella Henderson Dry Shampoo a fantastic dry shampoo at a drugstore pricepoint! It doesn’t provide the texture or grit that Drybar’s Triple Sec does, but it works really well to refresh my hair, diminish oil, add a bit of volume and an amazing fragrance. If you want to switch things up in the dry shampoo department, pick this limited edition release from Batiste up (I purchase mine at Superstore)! And if you’re curious about how I use dry shampoo as part of my haircare routine, hop over to Haircare 101 + My Tips for Long, Strong, Healthy Hair. […]

  • Reply A MINI MOUNTAIN GETAWAY - Justine Celina September 27, 2016 at 10:05 am

    […] and not getting out of my pyjamas until I took an amazing, 45 minute shower (I actually had time to wash my hair!). I even did a face mask, which I used to do every Sunday evening, but sadly haven’t had the […]

  • Reply NOVEMBER 2017 BEAUTY FAVOURITES - JustineCelina December 11, 2017 at 11:45 am

    […] on my hair to replace the oil I was using previously and had just run out of (read more about my haircare routine). Although it took me awhile to get the hang of how much I needed, I absolutely love this product! […]

  • Reply Roshni Parate May 3, 2019 at 12:09 pm

    Thank you for putting it all together in one place, very helpful. you have a really great blog, I keep referring to it!

    • Reply Justine May 3, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      My pleasure — I’m glad you found it helpful!

  • Reply MY HAIRCARE ROUTINE FOR LONG, THICK, COLOUR TREATED HAIR - JustineCelina November 1, 2023 at 8:54 am

    […] you believe it’s been 6 years since I’ve published a Haircare Routine?! While a lot has changed, my passion for maintaining healthy hair at home with a simple but […]

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